ISO 10377:2013— Consumer Product Safety
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2020, an estimated 28.5 million people sought medical attention for consumer product-related injuries in the United States, with the most common injuries occurring from stairs, ramps, landings, and floors, often due to slips and falls; other significant sources of injuries included beds, chairs, exercise equipment, bathtubs, clothing, and bicycles. Consumer product safety is essential to protect consumers from potential harm or injury caused by poorly designed or manufactured products. ISO 10377:2013— Consumer product safety – Guidelines for suppliers details guidance for suppliers of all sizes to assist them in assessing and managing the safety of the consumer products they supply.
Standardization of Product Safety
Standardization of product safety refers to the process of establishing consistent, defined guidelines and regulations for product design and manufacturing to assure that all products within a particular category meet a minimum safety standard. This process therefore minimizes potential harm to consumers by outlining specific requirements for materials, design, and performance across different industries. It safeguards the health and well-being of consumers while also building trust in brands by demonstrating their commitment to quality and responsible manufacturing practices. Essentially, standards for product safety, such as ISO 10377:2013, aim to create a uniform level of safety across products through established guidelines.
What Is ISO 10377?
ISO 10377:2013 provides practical guidance to suppliers on assessing and managing the safety of consumer products, including effective documentation of risk assessment and risk management to meet applicable requirements. The guidance in this international standard applies from the design of the product, to the input of raw materials, to production, to distribution, to retail, and to the final product end-user and disposal. ISO 10377:2013 describes how to perform the following actions:
- Identify, assess, reduce, or eliminate hazards
- Manage risks by reducing them to tolerable levels
- Provide consumers with hazard warnings or instructions essential to the safe use or disposal of consumer products
ISO 10377:2013 is intended to be particularly valuable to small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to suppliers that do not design or produce products.
Benefits of Standards for Consumer Safety Products
Besides helping consumers make informed choices about the products they are purchasing, product safety standards also benefit consumers by making products safer and more reliable. Standards additionally benefit businesses by reducing legal risks, improving quality control, increasing product traceability across the supply chain, and building consumer trust. The overall objective of ISO 10377:2013 is to produce safer consumer products, and thereby:
- Reduce the product safety risks to consumers
- Reduce the risks to suppliers of product recalls
- Provide consumers with the information they need in order to make informed choices for the safe use and disposal of consumer products
- Assist governments by improving the safety of consumer products
ISO 10377:2013— Consumer product safety – Guidelines for suppliers is available on the ANSI Webstore.
